Montana Stewart, who trains out of Fort Worth and wrestled at Azle High School, will compete on The Ultimate Fighter show for a chance at a UFC contract.
The show, in its 26th season, begins tonight at 9 p.m. on FS1. The UFC is using the show to introduce 16 fighters uin the new women’s 125-pound flyweight division.
For Stewart, fighting is a family affair. Fiance Mark De La Rosa (the two are getting married this weekend) and her daughter compete in combat sports. She answered some questions for us recently:
Why did you want to be an MMA fighter?
I’ve always been very competitive in sports I played. I started wrestling in high school and wasn’t able to go wrestle for college so I started training jiu jitsu at a local gym, my coach had I fight and I went to see it. I decided then I wanted to try to fight.
How did you get selected for the show? What was the process?
I went to Vegas to the open try outs where many other girls were trying out. We had an open grappling and pad hitting session.
People were eliminated then we went through several interviews and Medicals throughout the week. I waited for several weeks afterwards to find out then it was just confirmed a week before the show that I would be competing in the ultimate fighter.
What is like to have a fiance who is also an MMA fighter?
I couldn’t imagine my fiance not being involved in MMA. We push each other everyday physically and emotionally to better ourselves in our MMA career. We both make many sacrifices daily. It really helps out having him be my training partner. It’s really great how we both have the same goals and can help each other out with them every day.
What’s the hardest thing about being an MMA fighter and mom?
Honestly there are many pros and cons about being an MMA fighter and a mom. I love being able to spend as much time as a can with my daughter and that includes her coming to my training sessions. She’s also a wrestler and jiu jitsu practitioner so she knows how dedicated I have to be and we believe in each other. The hardest thing I think is me not wanting her to see me fail.
What do you think of the state of women’s MMA right now?
I think women’s MMA is continually growing, but I believe the UFC and spectators are waiting for a big star to emerge. After (Ronda) Rousey’s retirement, the world is craving someone like her to look up to and watch dominate.
Tell us why we should watch this season of The Ultimate Fighter
Everyone should watch this season because there are 16 women in a house all going after their dream to be a new (flyweight) champion in the UFC. We all have to fight each other and live with each other at the same time. Everyone will be able to have a sneak peek of all the sacrifices each of the women have made and a look into our lives and many different personalities. I’m sure many of us will be stars in the UFC and this is only the beginning of all of our careers.
